Senior Nutrition Made Easy
With the cost of living soaring to new heights, the price of food is becoming more expensive, especially for the retired senior population who did not factor the massive inflation costs into their retirement.
That is why it may be time for the elderly to explore the option of a food allowance card to help them afford the food they need. In this article, we will examine different senior food allowance cards that the elderly can use to obtain the healthy food they need.
What is a Food Allowance Card?
A food allowance card allows the owner of the card to purchase fresh, healthy food and groceries. The card improves health outcomes by helping supply people with the right nutritional ingredients and meals so that their conditions do not worsen.
A food allowance card is similar to a prepaid debit card. It allows elderly people to buy food from authorized outlets. The cards can also help promote healthier eating habits, as the items you buy with them are healthier than cheaper options.
These food allowance cards are a valuable resource for many senior citizens who are trying to stay healthy by eating a nutritious diet with their fixed pension or retirement income. This monthly allowance helps seniors stay healthier even with inflation and price fluctuations.
What Can You Get With a Food Allowance Card
As the food allowance cards are to provide a monthly allowance for nutritious meals, it means no junk foods or unhealthy options. Most food allowance plans exclude items with high saturated fats, heavy sodium levels and added sugars.
This means that items such as chips/crisps, soda, sweets/candy and even alcohol cannot be purchased using the food allowance card. None of these items we listed can be seen as a healthy option, so it will not be permitted.
These food allowance packages often include ingredients such as:
- Yogurt.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Healthy fats include olive oil and nuts, grains.
- Lean meats include eggs and fish.
- Dairy products such as milk and cheese.
Some items allowed to be bought can vary depending on the chronic illness and the plan the user uses for their food allowance card.
Why Seniors Need a Food Allowance Card or Program
There are a few reasons why using a grocery allowance card can help seniors in their daily lives. Using the card can help relieve stress as the monthly living costs can be cheaper, plus they know they can get their daily meals.
The NCOA Chief Customer Officer, Josh Hodges, stated, “For many older adults, the impact is clear: either they will forego other daily necessities, like prescription medicines, to pay for groceries; or they will buy less food and risk the effects of poor nutrition.”
Different Food Nutrition Service Grocery Allowance Systems
Medicare is well known to be one of the best options for a monthly food allowance card for seniors. They can shop at Walmart, CVS, Kroger and other places. Some food card plans also cover delivery fees.
Besides using the food allowance card from companies such as Medicare, senior citizens have a few options. Below are some different assistance programs seniors can use.
1. Home-Delivery Program
Some elderly citizens may not be able to cook anymore due to complications or can not shop for groceries because they need adult care, so having a home delivery service for food is invaluable to them.
The most well-known federal home-delivery/ care food program is Meals on Wheels, which caters to, plans and distributes free or low-cost meals to senior citizens.
2. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
When someone says to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, they mean food stamps. Food stamps are a monthly cash stipend sent electronically to people who need them, such as seniors.
The amount of money the stipend can be will vary between different states and where the recipient stays. On average, older adults such as seniors can get up to $100 or more a month. This may not seem like a lot, but for some, this helps them eat nutritious meals daily.
3. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
This senior feeding program is funded by the Farm Bill and works with the states to help limited-income households, such as seniors, buy fresh food. By using locally grown vegetables, herbs and fruits, you can help support local markets and get the correct nutrients.
Seniors enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will automatically be enrolled in the Senior’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
Navigating Senior Nutrition
Hopefully, with the knowledge from this article, you can find the best food allowance card or program for seniors that suits your needs and your budget.